Exoplanet Goes to Extremes

March 06, 2009

An exoplanet known as HD 80606b has been discovered to have extreme climate shifts and an unusual orbit. The gas giant orbits at a comfortable distance from its sun, except for a brief period where it veers in extremely close. During this time, temperatures can rise by more than a 1,000 degrees within a six-hour period. More at Space.com.